Many champagne producers purchased cognac spirit from Charles Lafitte & Cie for use in their liqueurs d'expédition — the sweetened reserve wine added to champagne during the dosage process.

In 1983, Paul-François Vranken launched a second great revolution with the founding of the Charles Lafitte champagne brand.
The house produces elegant, beautifully balanced champagnes. A traditional blend, predominantly Chardonnay, has contributed to the company's continued success. It crafts lively, joyful, consistent champagnes that flatter every palate.

Maison Charles Lafitte strives to do everything possible to ensure that the grapes remain untouched right up until the moment of pressing: the distance and time between the vineyards and the wine press are reduced to a minimum, thanks to the presses installed in Tours-sur-Marne, Saudoy and Merrey-sur-Arce.

Grapes from l'Aube, le Sézannais and the Marne Valley are pressed right there in the vineyards, and the resulting must is then transported by tanker to our cellars.

After pressing, we leave the must in the barrel for 15 to 24 hours to allow it to settle. Following systematic analytical and organoleptic (sensory) testing, the clarified must is inoculated with yeasts that trigger alcoholic fermentation.

The alcoholic fermentation phase lasts 1 to 2 weeks, during which sugars are converted into alcohol and carbon dioxide, which is allowed to escape, giving rise to "still wines" without any effervescence.

The Champagne blend reflects the diversity of nature, expressed in the differences between crus, grape varieties, and vintages. Each blend is a harmonious combination of wines from the current harvest and our reserve wines. Cellar master Dominique Pichart, together with his team of oenologists, is responsible for blending the Charles Lafitte vintages, so as to preserve their distinctive style year after year.

The goal is to create a harmonious blend of different crus, different varieties and different vintages (except for vintage champagnes), so that each cuvée is greater than the sum of its parts and reflects the excellence and personality of Charles Lafitte champagnes.